On this page
What to buy, at a glance
| Best for | What to look for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Healed lobes: first change | 18g titanium flat back earrings, 6 mmA smooth flat back in a metal the APP accepts. Our flat back guide gives this as the usual healed lobe size.
| Check price |
| Healed cartilage: first change | 16g titanium flat back labret, 6 mmThe usual helix and tragus size once downsized. Have your piercer confirm the length before you buy.
| Check price |
| Healing: aftercare | Sterile saline wound wash sprayThe one product a new piercing needs while it heals, according to the APP's aftercare page.
| Check price |
Each button opens an Amazon search, not one product we have tested. Check that the listing states the gauge, size and material, such as ASTM F136 titanium. Amazon shows the current price. As an Amazon Associate, Best Piercing earns from qualifying purchases.
The best earrings for a new piercing are smooth flat-back studs in implant-certified titanium or solid 14k gold, fitted by your piercer. You do not need to buy them first. What you buy yourself is the saline for now and the pair for the first change, once the piercing has healed.
Details here are as read in November 2026. It is information, not medical advice.
What the sources say goes in first
| Source | What it advises |
|---|---|
| Association of Professional Piercers (APP) | Implant-certified titanium (ASTM F-136), steel to set standards, niobium, nickel- and cadmium-free gold of 14k or higher, platinum and some glass. Internally threaded or threadless |
| Healthline | Ask your piercer for flat studs, not ones with jewels or jagged edges |
| Cleveland Clinic | 14K gold, medical-grade steel or titanium. Avoid alloys that contain nickel |
The APP says gold-plated, gold-filled and gold overlay or vermeil jewelry is not acceptable for fresh piercings. Its initial jewelry page does not list silver.
Why your piercer picks the first pair
A new piercing swells, and the post has to leave room for that. The APP says length or diameter must suit your anatomy, and that jewelry which is too tight can block circulation. Your piercer measures it. A pair you bought in advance may not fit, even in the right metal.
How long the first pair stays in
The American Academy of Dermatology says to leave jewelry in for six weeks or more, even at night, because taking starter jewelry out too early may let the piercing close. The Cleveland Clinic says not to change earrings until the piercing is fully healed.
Cartilage takes much longer than a lobe. When can I change my ear piercing has the signs to check, and ear piercing healing time compares each placement.
What to buy while it heals
Only saline. The APP advises sterile saline labeled as a wound wash, with 0.9% sodium chloride as the only ingredient. Saline sprays compared checks the common products against that test.
On AmazonSterile saline wound washCheck the listing states the gauge, size and material.
Check priceWhat to buy for the first change
Once the piercing has healed, buy by size and metal. Our flat back guide gives the usual sizes: a 20 or 18 gauge post at about 6 mm for a healed lobe, and 16 gauge at 6 mm for a downsized helix or tragus.
Many cartilage piercings need a shorter post before they heal, and that is a job for your piercer. See piercing downsizing.
On Amazon18g titanium flat backs for healed lobesCheck the listing states the gauge, size and material.
Check priceBefore you buy, check that a listing gives:
- Gauge and length in millimeters.
- The metal and its standard, such as ASTM F136 titanium or solid 14k gold.
- A threadless or internally threaded fitting, since the APP describes externally threaded jewelry as rough.
If your ears react to metal, read the best earrings for sensitive ears. See a doctor if a new piercing is hot, has spreading redness or thick colored discharge, or you feel unwell.
Frequently asked questions
What earrings are best for a new piercing?
A smooth flat-back stud in implant-certified titanium, or solid 14k or higher gold that is nickel- and cadmium-free. The APP lists these for initial piercings, and Healthline says to ask for flat studs rather than ones with jewels or jagged edges. Your piercer fits the first pair.
How long should I keep my first earrings in?
The American Academy of Dermatology says six weeks or more, even at night, and that removing starter jewelry too early may let the piercing close. The Cleveland Clinic says not to change earrings until the piercing is fully healed, which takes longer in cartilage.
Can I buy my own earrings for a new piercing?
Have your piercer choose the first piece, since the APP says jewelry must suit your anatomy and a fresh piercing needs room for swelling. Buy your own for the first change, once it has healed.
Are sterling silver earrings OK for newly pierced ears?
The APP's initial jewelry page does not include silver among its materials. Hold off until the piercing has healed, and check the alloy.
What metal should I avoid in a new piercing?
The APP says gold-plated, gold-filled and gold overlay or vermeil jewelry is not acceptable for fresh piercings. The Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding alloys that contain nickel.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- American Academy of Dermatology - Caring for new piercingshttps://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
- Cleveland Clinic - Ear piercing 101https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-expect-when-getting-your-ears-pierced
- Healthline - Sleeping with earrings: is it safe?https://healthline.com/health/sleep-with-earrings
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.